Smells are an important aspect of
memory and without smells there would be no memories opine scientists
and boy, they cannot be more correct. How much often I try to avoid
sentimentalising my past, some smells never let me rest -- they coerce
me into mentally shifting into another time and day when a particular
smell happened.
1. Smell of moth balls are not quite to my liking but a whiff
of them sends me into the trunks and cupboards of houses we lived in and
clothes we transferred from cupboards to suitcases. Moth balls are
emissaries of nostalgia!
2. The fragrance of jasmine flowers always remind me of a
time when I fought for flowers on my aunt's head. They also remind of
markets where there were many shops lined which sold strands of jasmine
flowers.
3. Freshly painted walls force me into a mental journey of
places that were part of my memory - school buildings, shops, houses
and public libraries.
4. Smell of newspapers transport me but I still can't pinpoint any special place. It just transports me!
5. The smell while passing by a bakery - The assortment of
diverse pastries and savouries combine to send out a wonderful smell
that immediately reminds me of school get-togethers in small bakeries
and shops.
6. While sauteing onions, there is a lovely smell that
wafts through the kitchen and immediately the mind conjures images of
lovely food and always food leads one to vibrant and beautiful and
not-so-beautiful memories.
7. Nail polish smell brings to mind the memory of other
similar smells like that of petrol, fresh paint alongside incidents
which formed an integral part of our lives some time ago!
I am participating in Write Tribe's
Festival of Words from 1st to 7th September where nearly 82 bloggers
are writing on the theme of Seven for Seven days - a post a day! Today
is Day 5.
Lovely post. Every life has its own share of smellodrama if I could put it that way.
ReplyDeleteSmell of different things affect people in different ways. Whereas smell of jasmine is refreshing for all,the smell of onion is welcome for some and repulsive to others. Nicely written!
ReplyDeleteExcept for the smell of freshly painted walls, I love all the smells rather the fragrances . Fragrances of the jasmine flowers is divine and right now I am cooking lady finger sabzi and aroma is..........love it.
ReplyDeleteAha moth balls have this peculiar smell that every winter transports me to memories of my maternal grandparents' place! Don't know why exactly.
ReplyDeleteN the smell of petrol, which I love, always remind me of endless trips with papa on scooter!!
Lovely post! :) thanks!
I vaguely remember your post, may a couple of years ago where you had written about the how a scent/ touch/ taste transports one back to a particular scene/ emotion. This reminded me of that. We once had a extempore event in school and the topic was, "sounds that I like" it was a fun activity :)
ReplyDeleteI simply enjoy reading your posts.. There is so much of a personal touch and warmth to it... :-)
ReplyDeleteThe smell of Petrol, Ghee in the kadai, agarbattis are the ones that I can't resist. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how smells bring back vivid memories for us. Wonderful post!
ReplyDeletePenny
http://pennymcdanielspiritualguidance.blogspot.com
I love the smell of soil after rain. I love the smell of mehandi too.
ReplyDeleteSmell of petrol, old papers and strong perfumes is unbearable to me.
Why is it that only the smells relating to food stay in my mind :)
ReplyDeleteAh! I also love the smell of old books - Thank God there is something else :)
I have the habit of loving the first five smells. Great post and can't stop laughing:)
ReplyDeleteI have the habit of loving the first five smells. Great post and can't stop laughing:)
ReplyDeletewww.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com
I esp identify with smell of those moth balls.. The memories of dark wooden almarahs they take me back to :)
ReplyDeleteI too love smell of jasmine, petrol smell in the early morning drive, ghee in kadai, briyani smell, elaichi smell etc :-))))
ReplyDeleteI love the smell of old book and the first rain :D
ReplyDeletebeautiful post :D
Isn't it amazing that we all seem to have some kind of engraved childhood memory associations with each of the smells you've mentioned?
ReplyDeleteThat's a nice post. Smells...for me I somehow like the smell of dettol too much...I don't know why...maybe it smells care :)
ReplyDeleteNostalgic post....smell is indeed a heightening sense organ like the others
ReplyDeleteI liked your post, also agree with you some smells like nailpolish, petrol, sandalwood, attracts me. The smell of biryani, kababs, and some very special curry's reminds me of my mom who was very good at cooking. Thanks for sharing !!
ReplyDeleteTrue moth balls are emissaries of nostalgia and sauteing onions makes one hungry.
ReplyDeletePetrol smell used to make me go bonkers, but that was in the school days.
Your write up made me also gait into all those pathways and rebrush all my bachpan ka memories.
ReplyDeleteLOVED IT!!
I love the smell of jasmine flowers too. The next time I'm in Bombay I've told myself I'm going to buy and wear a gajra at least for a day. My aunt loved them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post!! I had to laugh at the smell of moth balls. After my mom was sick with cancer she would wrap up a bunch of moth balls in a piece of cloth and bang then on the arm of the chair where she was sitting pulverizing them into dust. Maybe she did it to get high and it helped her to deal with the pain. I have no idea. LOL I can just remember her doing it vividly.
ReplyDeleteKathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
Oh yes, smells have a way of transporting us to different places... some lovely memories and moments come live in a flash of a second! :)
ReplyDelete